Brian’s Career
BORN
Sydney 1934
MARRIED
To (Dr.) Avril Searle, 1969; Avril deceased 20 July 2017; three children (1 born Iowa City; 2 born Houston); nine grandchildren, one greatgrandson.
EDUCATION:
1954 BSc [Hons. 1], School of Physics, University of Sydney;
1957 PhD Physics, University of Sydney.
POSITIONS
June 2009 – to date:
Adjunct Professor of Physics, University of Western Australia;
1978 - to date:
MD., Brian J. O'Brien and Assoc. P/L. Strategic & Environ. Consult., Perth;
1971-1977
Foundation Director of Environmental Protection, Foundation Chairman of Environmental Protection Authority [EPA] and Chairman of Environmental Protection Council (EPC), Govt. of WA;
1969-1970
Visiting Scientist, University of Sydney;
1963-1968
Professor of Space Science, Rice University, Houston Texas;
1964 (3 months)
Visiting Professor of Physics, University of Sydney;
1959-1963
Asst. then Assoc. Prof. Physics, State Univ. Iowa, Iowa City;
Photo of Brian in SUI receiving station about 6 or 7 metres from his office in the basement of Physic Dept in Iowa City. Brian was working on data from his first satellite, Explorer 7. There was a large press conference in Washington on explorer 7’s first birthday in 1960 when its killer timer was supposed to turn it off to free the telemetry band for others - Brian won a very public $10 bet that it would not happen.
1958-1959
Deputy Chief Physicist, Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions, Melbourne;
AWARDS:
Brian was the first Australian to receive the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement; Other awards include Centennial medal; Paul Harris (Rotary) Medal plus Sapphire;
MEMBERSHIPS:
Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, 1993; Aurora Society; Twenty Club; Rotary Club; American Geophysical Society; Australian Institute of Physics; Honorary Life Member Environmental Consultants Association, and others.